The Inkatha Freedom Party in KwaZulu-Natal has elected Mcebo Mkhize as the new mayor of Endumeni Municipality, in Dundee. IOL mentioned that the 27-year-old IFP youth wing member was appointed on Tuesday afternoon.
Mkhize replaced Siyabonga Ndlovu, who was asked to step down following his altercation with the Democratic Alliance(DA).
MKHIZE’S INAUGURATION
The Citizen mentioned that Mkhize and the ANC’s councillor Zita Shelembe were the two nominations for the position, and the IFP and the DA voted together to make it 7-6 in favour of Mkhize.
Five ANC councillors and a single ABC candidate voted in favour of Shelembe.
Mkhize takes the chain of office as controversies continue to swirl around Endumeni Municipality.
The IFP released a press statement congratulating the newly appointed mayor.
The statement read:
“We are thrilled to see Honourable Mkhize take the reins and steer eNdumeni Local Municipality towards progress and development.”
“His dedication to public service and commitment to the well-being of young people are truly commendable,” the statement read.
BOMB SCARE AMID ELECTION PROCESSES
The election of Mkhize to the mayoral position was an uphill battle. A bomb scare ruined a council meeting that was intended to elect a new mayor, resulting in the meeting being adjourned amid fears.
According to the Sunday World, before the bomb scare, there were fears and panic that a bomb had been planted inside the municipal premises. An anonymous caller provided a tip-off that there would be mass deaths.
This comes after the local sheriff’s attachment of 13 vehicles after the municipality failed to obey a court order to pay dismissed official Zakhele Zulu R9 000 000. Zulu, the previous services manager, was fired for alleged misconduct.
ANC IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE ELECTION OF MKHIZE
The ANC has made it clear that they will not support the election of Mkhize.
Regional Secretary Lucky Khumalo said that they acknowledge the utterances made by the former mayor about the DA allegedly being paid R120 000 to support him in staying as mayor.
“What would have stopped the two parties from entering into the same arrangement? We ask again, albeit rhetorically, how much did it cost the IFP to buy the DA’s support this time around?” asked Khumalo.
Ndlovu made assertions in a grievance letter addressed to the IFP’s National Executive Committee (NEC). In the letter, he claimed that the IFP and DA’s governing agreement was based on a corrupt relationship.
It was not the first time the IFP appointed a young person to lead the eNdumeni Municipality. In the 2016 local government elections, the party elected Siboniso Mbatha (30) as the youngest mayor of the municipality. However, he was arrested in 2018 for allegedly plotting to assassinate former Speaker Bongiwe Mbatha.
Despite past discrepancies, the party was confident that Mkhize would steer the municipality out of the woods.
“We trust that he will steer eNdumeni Local Municipality towards progress and development,” the party said.
Do you think that the leadership style of Mcebo Mkhize will differ from older mayors as he’s still young?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
